Serving the Polo Area Since 1857
POLO
Tri-County Press June 19, 2014 Volume 156, Number 39 - $1.00
Softball Awards
Bear Sighting
Sheriff Concern
The Forreston-Polo Softball team earned a variety of awards following their season. A10
A Chana resident reported seeing a black bear on Sunday. A7
Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker addressed concerns with the sheriff Tuesday. A2
Polo ambulance adds coverage due to closure Oregon Ambulance ends operations By Vinde Wells Editor Neighboring fire departments are pitching in to cover calls while the Oregon Fire District is without an ambulance service. The Oregon Ambulance Service, Inc., a privatelyowned not-for-profit corporation, closed its doors early Tuesday morning, leaving residents to rely on mutual aid in case of a medical emergency. The Oregon Fire Department does not currently have an ambulance service, supported by tax dollars. Oregon Fire Chief Don Heller began contacting officials in the nine adjoining fire districts last week when he learned the ambulance service was shutting down. The Polo Fire Protection District Board approved covering a portion of Oregon’s district Monday as the first ambulance called in an emergency. Polo Fire Chief Tony Karrow said his department will cover the southwest segment of the district. Mt. Morris and Byron will
Festival Action Above, Ryan Call, age 15, Megan Call, age 14, and Nicholas Call, age 5, ride the Sizzler Friday afternoon at Polo’s Town & Country Days Festival. At right, Town & Country Days’ port-a-potty race was shortlived on Sunday after one of the teams crashed in the first race of the day. At right, Tiffany Willis and Kate Messer fall as their teammates Sarah Rowland and Jodi Merrell react. They were racing against David Peterson and Scott Phillips, seen at left, and their teammates Rachel Phillips and Jennifer Grobe. Photos by Chris Johnson and Earleen Hinton
cover the City of Oregon as well as some of the surrounding rural area. “We would assist with mutual aid anyway as we have in the past,� said Byron Fire Chief Galen Bennett. “It will just be more often now.� Byron has 18 full and parttime paramedics. “We will be neighborly and provide mutual aid, when we can, as a short term solution,� Mt. Morris Fire Chief Rob Hough said. “We will constantly evaluate the situation and make sure we are not jeopardizing the service we provide to our taxpayers. First and foremost our priority and mission is to service the taxpaying citizens of our district.� Mt. Morris’s staff included six full-time paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and seven to eight part-time. Both districts charge a higher fee for ambulance calls out of their districts. The amount charged is based on miles traveled, and the medical equipment and supplies required. Other neighboring fire districts include Leaf River, Stillman Valley, Ogle-Lee, Lynn-Scott-Rock, Dixon Rural, Franklin Grove, and Ashton.
Couple to host field day at the BerryView Orchard By Vinde Wells Editor For taste treats from smoothies to jelly to a fullbodied wine, a Mt. Morris couple is growing the right ingredient — with health benefits. Jeff and Julie Warren are raising aronia berries organically at their 20-acre BerryView Orchard, 7504 W. Midtown Rd., northwest of Mt. Morris.
The Warrens will open their recently established orchard to visitors for a field day on Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jeff said the purpose of the field day is to attract customers to the operation and to interest other people in the area to become aronia growers. The event will feature field tours and information, as well as samples of aronia products.
Polo pool may reopen if inspections complete By Vinde Wells Editor Relief from the heat is in sight — Polo residents may be able to cool off in the city pool by late this week. The pool hasn’t opened yet this year due to construction of a new wet pit and filter house. Polo City Clerk Susie Corbitt told the city council Monday night that the pool may open Thursday at the earliest if it passes the mandatory state inspection. “The best scenario is sometime Thursday,� she said. The hold-up has been getting the last few parts
installed to get the wet pit and filter house up and running. The contractor who can install the parts is aiming to get the work done early this week, Corbitt said. The state inspection can take place Thursday if the work is completed by then. If not, the next time the state inspector can come is Tuesday. Corbitt said that since the project is new construction, a state inspection is required before the pool can open again. The city received a $38,000 state grant to cover a portion of the estimated $93,000 project.
In This Week’s Edition...
Small green berries are already abundant on the 1,600 aronia bushes the Warrens have planted over three years, starting in 2010. Jeff said they started planting them in the fall of 2010, planted more the following fall, and the last batch in the spring of 2012. The round berries are
similar in size to blueberries and ripen to an almost black purple by early to midSeptember. “I like the health aspect,� Jeff said. The fruit is noted for being high in anti-oxidants and provides various health benefits. So far the Warrens have
used the berries to make wine, jellies, and various baked goods. One woman came to pick them to add to smoothies because of the rich purple color, as well as the flavor. A wholesale buyer comes from western Iowa for berries to use in the various products he makes and sells.
Because the berries have an astringent taste, but are high in natural sugar, Jeff said they are especially good when mixed with other fruit, especially apples and pears. The Warrens also have more than 500 fruit trees in their orchard. The trees are mostly apple, but they also Turn to A3
Community rallies to help family By Kimberly Watley Correspondent Out in the country, on Leaf River Road, a charred pile is all that remains of the Beltran home. The family of six wasn’t home June 7 when a heating lamp for chickens, what fire investigators suspect, sparked the blaze. The community has rallied around Steve and Jenny Beltran and their four children, who are staying in a bunkhouse in Pecatonica temporarily. Forrestville Valley School Superintendent, Sheri Smith organized “Rally of Love� as a way to provide a central location for donations. “Everyone was asking what they could do. It made sense to do something for them here. The beauty of
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4
being in a small town is, people will step-up to help get them through this,� Smith said. School staff volunteered to accept donations, as well as brought in items. Coaches dropped off apparel and equipment for the children, Jeremy, 12, Julianna, 12, Matthew, 10 and Max, 3. Library aide Barbara Miller coordinated the volunteers, most of whom are school staff, and she said were quick to offer a hand. Jenny is a substitute teacher through the Lee-Ogle County Education Consortium, often in the school district. The children also attend school in the district. Smith created an online survey that lists all of the items received and still needed for the family. Much like a guest registry, it helps
Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B2 Sheriff’s Arrests, B2
Steve Beltran holds the charred serenity coin that belonged to his late uncle. He found the coin while sorting through the burned remnants of his home on Leaf River Road. Photo supplied
limit duplicates. Pots and pans, dishes, clothing, toys, cash and gift cards were among the many items people brought to Forreston Junior-Senior High
Social News, A4 Sports, A10 State’s Attorney, B3 Weather, A2
School June 12. “If the school is open, people are welcome to continue bringing items after today,� Smith said. Turn to A7
Deaths, B3 Jennie M. Birkholz, Debra S. Ford, Ruth V. Nevenhoven, Willard G. Runte
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